Global Environment Outlook 3 (GEO 3)

1 2 6

STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND POLICY RETROSPECTIVE: 1972–2002

2000, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was developed to ensure that recipient countries have both the opportunity and the capacity to assess risks relating to GMOs, and to ensure their safe transfer, handling and use. Conclusion Assessing the impact of the various multilateral environmental agreements on biodiversity is problematic. This is because there is an absence of baseline data from which to measure changes and the agreements generally do not refer to explicit biodiversity-related targets (either in their texts or in subsequent elaboration) against which to measure impacts. It is also extremely difficult to separate the impacts of one agreement from a host of confounding factors. One exception is the moratorium on commercial whaling imposed by the International Whaling Commission since 1985-86. In this case, there were appropriate baseline data on whale stocks and it is reasonable to assume that subsequent increases in populations, where these have been observed, are a result of the moratorium. Assessment of the impact of policy responses to pressures on biodiversity is limited by the lack of a comprehensive system for monitoring, for collating relevant data and for presenting information in a consistent manner. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) was recently developed to help address this need by improving collection and presentation of information on biodiversity. GBIF developed from the work of the OECD Megascience Forum Working Group on Biological Informatics that was established in January 1996. In general, the available data suggest that despite a variety of initiatives, biodiversity continues to decline. Most examples of successful conservation action are those where particular attention, and considerable financial resources, have been focused on individual species or localized areas. Many threats to biodiversity such as habitat loss and invasion by introduced species continue to intensify. In addition, new threats may be emerging, such as climate change and the introduction of LMOs. Overall, it appears that the drivers of biodiversity loss are so pervasive that conservation efforts have at best only slowed the rate of change at the global level.

fishes (Harrison and Stiassny 1999). The number of aquatic introductions rose rapidly during the second half of the 20th century (see graph). The CBD recognizes the importance of invasive species as a global problem and calls upon contracting parties to prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats and species. In response to a recommendation from the CBD in 1996, the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) was developed, which is coordinated by the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), in collaboration with IUCN, Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International and UNEP. The programme will review current knowledge on invasive species and develop new tools and approaches to deal with the problem both locally and globally.

Cumulative number of aquatic introductions

Total

freshwater marine

pre-1800

47

7

40

1800–1899

183

59

124

1900–1939

497

327

170

1940–1979

1 611

921

690

1980–1998

2 214

983

1 231

0

250

500

750

1 000

1 250

1 500

1 750

2 000

2 250

Cumulative number of aquatic introductions

Biotechnology Biotechnology is increasingly being used for the genetic improvement of crops but concerns have been raised about potential risks to biodiversity. The organisms produced are referred to as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or living modified organisms (LMOs) and efforts have focused on such crops as tomatoes, grains, cassava, maize and soybeans. In response to this concern, a subsidiary agreement to the CBD was negotiated to address the potential risks posed by cross-border trade and accidental releases of GMOs. Adopted in January

rose fast in the second half of the 20th century

Source: FAO 1998 and Wellcome 1988